按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
myself may be dead to…morrow。
Since the last two hours all laughter； all levity； has ceased on the
shipa settled gloom is upon the faces of the passengers。
By noon it was evident that the minister could not survive。 He died at
two o'clock next morning； the fifth victim in less than five days。 The
machinery continued to break and the vessel to drag。 The ship's doctor
confessed to Clemens that he was helpless。 There were eight patients in
the hospital。
But on January 6th they managed to make Key West； and for some reason
were not quarantined。 Twenty…one passengers immediately deserted the
ship and were heard of no more。
〃I am glad they are gone。 Dn them；〃 says the notebook。 Apparently he
had never considered leaving； and a number of others remained。 The
doctor restocked his medicine…locker； and the next day they put to sea
again。 Certainly they were a daring lot of voyagers。 On the 8th another
of the patients died。 Then the cooler weather seemed to check the
contagion； and it was not until the night of the 11th； when the New York
harbor lights were in view； that the final death occurred。 There were no
new cases by this time； and the other patients were convalescent。 A
certificate was made out that the last man had died of 〃dropsy。〃 There
would seem to have been no serious difficulty in docking the vessel and
landing the passengers。 The matter would probably be handled differently
to…day。
LVII
OLD FRIENDS AND NEW PLANS
It had been more than thirteen years since his first arrival in New York。
Then he had been a youth； green； untraveled； eager to get away from home。
Now a veteran； he was as eager to return。
He stopped only long enough in New York to see Charles Henry Webb； late
of California； who had put together a number of the Mark Twain sketches；
including 〃The Jumping Frog；〃 for book publication。 Clemens himself
decided to take the book to Carleton； thinking that； having missed the
fame of the 〃Frog〃 once； he might welcome a chance to stand sponsor for
it now。 But Carleton was wary； the 〃Frog〃 had won favor； and even fame；
in its fugitive； vagrant way； but a book was another matter。 Books were
undertaken very seriously and with plenty of consideration in those days。
Twenty…one years later； in Switzerland； Carleton said to Mark Twain：
〃My chief claim to immortality is the distinction of having declined your
first book。〃
Clemens was ready enough to give up the book when Carleton declined it；
but Webb said he would publish it himself； and he set about it forthwith。
The author waited no longer now； but started for St。 Louis； and was soon
with his mother and sister； whom he had not seen since that eventful
first year of the war。 They thought he looked old； which was true
enough； but they found him unchanged in his manner： buoyant； full of
banter and gravely quaint remarkshe was always the same。 Jane Clemens
had grown older； too。 She was nearly sixty…four； but as keen and
vigorous as ever…proud （even if somewhat critical） of this handsome；
brilliant man of new name and fame who had been her mischievous； wayward
boy。 She petted him； joked with him； scolded him； and inquired
searchingly into his morals and habits。 In turn he petted； comforted；
and teased her。 She decided that he was the same Sam； and always would
bea true prophecy。
He went up to Hannibal to see old friends。 Many were married； some had
moved away； some were deadthe old story。 He delivered his lecture
there； and was the center of interest and admirationhis welcome might
have satisfied even Tom Sawyer。 From Hannibal he journeyed to Keokuk；
where he lectured again to a crowd of old friends and new； then returned
to St。 Louis for a more extended visit。
It was while he was in St。 Louis that he first saw the announcement of
the Quaker City Holy Land Excursion； and was promptly fascinated by what
was then a brand…new idea in ocean travela splendid picnica choice
and refined party that would sail away for a long summer's journeying to
the most romantic of all lands and seas； the shores of the Mediterranean。
No such argosy had ever set out before in pursuit of the golden fleece of
happiness。
His projected trip around the world lost its charm in the light of this
idyllic dream。 Henry Ward Beecher was advertised as one of the party；
General Sherman as another； also ministers； high…class journaliststhe
best minds of the nation。 Anson Burlingame had told him to associate
with persons of refinement and intellect。 He lost no time in writing to
the Alta； proposing that they send him in this select company。
Noah Brooks； who was then on the Alta； states ＇In an article published
in the Century Magazine。＇ that the management was staggered by the
proposition； but that Col。 John McComb insisted that the investment in
Mark Twain would be sound。 A letter was accordingly sent； stating that a
check for his passage would be forwarded in due season； and that meantime
he could contribute letters from New York City。 The rate for all letters
was to be twenty dollars each。 The arrangement was a godsend； in the
fullest sense of the word； to Mark Twain。
It was now April； and he was eager to get back to New York to arrange his
passage。 The Quaker City would not sail for two months yet （two eventful
months）； but the advertisement said that passages must be secured by the
5th； and he was there on that day。 Almost the first man he met was the
chief of the New York Alta bureau with a check for twelve hundred and
fifty dollars （the amount of his ticket） and a telegram saying； 〃Ship
Mark Twain in the Holy Land Excursion and pay his passage。〃
＇The following letter； which bears no date； was probably handed to
him later in the New York Alta office as a sort of credential：
ALTA CALIFORNIA OFFICE； 42 JOHN STREET； NEW YORK。
Sam'l Clemens； Esq。； New York。
DEAR SIR；I have the honor to inform you that Fred'k。 MacCrellish
& Co。； Proprietors of Alta California； San Francisco； Cal。； desire
to engage your services as Special Correspondent on the pleasure
excursion now about to proceed from this City to the Holy Land。 In
obedience to their instructions I have secured a passage for you on
the vessel about to convey the excursion party referred to； and made
such arrangements as I hope will secure your comfort and
convenience。 Your only instructions are that you will continue to
write at such times and from such places as you deem proper； and in
the same style that heretofore secured you the favor of the readers
of the Alta California。 I have the honor to remain； with high
respect and esteem；
Your ob'dt。 Servant；
JOHN J。 MURPHY。＇
The Alta； it appears； had already applied for his berth； but； not having
been vouched for by Mr。 Beecher or some other eminent divine； Clemens was
fearful he might not be accepted。 Quite casually he was enlightened on
this point。 While waiting for attention in the shipping…office； with the
Alta agent； he heard a newspaper man inquire what notables were going。
A clerk； with evident pride； rattled off the names：
〃Lieutenant…General Sherman； Henry Ward Beecher； and Mask Twain； also
probably General Banks。〃
So he was billed as an attraction。 It was his first surreptitious taste
of fame on the Atlantic coast； and not without its delight。 The story
often told of his being introduced by Ned House； of the Tribune； as a
minister； though often repeated by Mark Twain himself； was in the nature
of a joke； and mainly apocryphal。 Clemens was a good deal in House's
company at the time； for he had made an arrangement to contribute
occasional letters to the Tribune； and House no doubt introduced him
jokingly as one of the Quaker City ministers。
LVIII
A NEW BOOK AND A LECTURE
Webb； meantime； had pushed the Frog book along。 The proofs had been read
and the volume was about ready for issue。 Clemens wrote to his mother
April 15th：
My book will probably be in the bookseller's hands in about two
weeks。 After that I shall lecture。 Since I have been gone； the
boys have gotten up a 〃call〃 on me signed by two hundred
Californians。
The lecture plan was the idea of Frank Fuller； who as acting Governor of
Utah had known Mark Twain on the Comstock； and prophesied favorably of
his future career。 Clemens had hunted up Fuller on landing in New York
in January； and Fuller had encouraged the lecture then； but Clemens was
doubtful。
〃I have no reputation with the general public here；〃 he said。 〃We
couldn't get a baker's dozen to hear me。〃
But Fuller was a sanguine person； with an energy and enthusiasm that were
infectious。 He insisted that the idea was sound。 It would solidify Mark
Twain's reputation on the Atlantic coast； he declared； insisting that the
largest house in New York； Cooper Union； should be taken。 Clemens had
partially consented； and Fuller had arranged with all the Pacific slope
people who had come East； headed by ex…Governor James W。 Nye （by this
time Senator at Washington）； to sign a call for the 〃Inimitable Mark
Twain〃 to appear before a New